Poor health outcomes for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are apparent when comparing their health indicators against the rest of the U.S. population.

The Disability and Health Program (DHP) is funded by a three-year grant from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The goals of the program are to include Floridians of all ages
with disabilities in all of the Department of Health's programs and activities for health promotion,
disease prevention, wellness, and disaster preparedness.

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Zika Fever is a mild febrile illness caused by a mosquito-borne virus. It has been identified in several countries in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Zika fever has also been reported in travelers returning to the U.S. and Florida. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Travel Advisory to impacted countries can be found here. Take protect yourself and your loved ones: Drain standing water, no matter how seemingly small, cover your skin with mosquito repellent or protective clothing and keep windows and doors covered with screens.

TALLAHASSEE—During the 6th annual Tobacco Free Florida Week, April 21–27, the Department of Health is emphasizing the importance of teamwork with health professionals to help smokers quit for good. Team Up to Quit is a statewide effort to raise awareness of the resources available to help Floridians quit tobacco.

“The health care community plays a critical role in helping patients understand the impact of smoking on their lives,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “Patients who discuss ways to quit with their health care professionals are ultimately more successful in their quit attempts.”

Clear and consistent messaging from physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and health care professionals is important to help Floridians quit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 and the U.S. Surgeon General2 have recently urged all tobacco control programs and health care professionals to connect more smokers to proven effective resources. In 2012, only half of Florida’s health care professionals reported that they often assessed tobacco users’ readiness to quit or assisted smokers with a quit attempt.3

Through Tobacco Free Florida, smokers have the option to call the Florida Quitline, use a web-based program, or attend in-person counseling services and they may receive free FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy. For more information and resources, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com/healthcare.

Why Team Up to Quit?

Patients who work with their health care professionals are ultimately more successful in their quit attempts.4

When tobacco users receive treatment according to the U.S. Public Health Service’s clinical practice guideline, they report higher satisfaction with overall health care received compared to untreated tobacco users.5

Smokers who quit can add up to 10 years to their life expectancy by quitting.6

What’s the Impact of Tobacco in Florida?

Florida’s leading preventable cause of death and disease is tobacco use.7

If current rates continue, 270,200 Florida children alive today who are younger than 18 years of age will die prematurely as a result of smoking.8

In 2009, the annual direct costs to Florida’s economy attributable to smoking were in excess of $19.6 billion, including direct medical costs of $7.2 billion.9

ABOUT TOBACCO FREE FLORIDA WEEK
The sixth annual Tobacco Free Florida Week takes place from April 21–27. Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #TeamUpToQuit.

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs—January 2014. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2014.

2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2014.

7 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking —50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2014

8 2014 CDC Best Practices: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs—January 2014. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2014.